Wednesday October 24, 2018
People use computers at an internet cafe in the Hodan area of Mogadishu October 9, 2013. Reuters/Feisal Omar.
MOGADISHU, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Somali government said Tuesday it is implementing a raft of measures aimed at revamping the information and communication technology (ICT) sector which was affected by more than two decades of civil war.
"Some of you have one, two or three SIM cards and mobile phones because our telecom operators are not interconnected. As a government, we are committed that this time next year, you will be able to make calls throughout Somalia with just one SIM card," Ashur said during the official opening of the Mogadishu Tech Summit.
He said his ministry is undertaking a number of measures aimed at developing the sector, including drafting policies, developing e-government strategy and government portal, promoting tech innovation, and promoting ICT literacy.
Ashur noted that the world has made the largest number of tech advancements in the past 30 years than any time before, at a time when Somalia has been dealing with security challenges.
However, he said, there is hope when the country's young generation are now thinking about technology.
The forum which was organized by iRise Tech Hub came barely a week after Mogadishu hosted the Somali Network Operators Group conference.
Ashur said that he is impressed by the increasing awareness in the public about the role of technology in daily lives as evidenced by the growing number of tech-related events in the country.